Tag Archives: Michael Turner

Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan provided commentary for today’s game of the Atlanta Falcons at the Seattle Seahawks. Broadcast on Fox, the Seahawks were on offense first and did an incredible job at moving the ball down the field. Eight minutes into the first quarter and the Seahawks were nose-to-nose to the end zone. One play later, running back Marshawn Lynch broke the plane. Seattle 7 and Atlanta 0. With under three minutes left in the quarter, Seattle lost a challenge of whether or not Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan got enough forward progress to get convert a fourth down. Would they be able to do it again for a touchdown? Running back Michael Turner carried the ball a handful of times and then at the top of the second quarter, Matt Ryan and running back Jason Snelling connected for six points and the extra point was good. Seahawks 7 and Atlanta 7.

Just as the Falcons’ offense was demonstrating its prowess, Jason Snelling had back-to-back losing his grip on the ball. Luckily for him, his teammates recovered the ball. Matt Bryant’s twenty-seven yard field goal in the bottom of the second quarter gave the Falcons a slight edge. Eleven minutes into the quarter and Matt Ryan threw an interception–Seahawks strong safety Jordan Babineaux took the ball right from its trajectory. The Seahawks’ own kicker tied the game with a thirty-eight yard FG. Atlanta 10 and Seattle 10. The Falcons finished the first half on top with a touchdown catch by wide receiver Michael Jenkins. Atlanta 17 and Seattle 10.

The Falcons started on offense at the top of the third quarter; although they had to punt the ball away, when the Seahawks went on offense, Jonathan Babineaux recovered a fumbled ball in the end zone (Jamaal Anderson caused Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck to drop the ball). Atlanta 24 and Seattle 10. Halfway through the quarter, Hasselbeck threw an interception (Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes leaped and nabbed the ball from mid-air). Four minutes later, Matt Bryant went onto the field for a twenty-five yard FG. Atlanta 27 and Seattle 10. SMOKIN SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY PLUS!! Did the Falcons recover another fumbled Seahawks ball at around the three minute mark in the third quarter? Indeed they did. A few plays later, wide receiver Roddy White increased the Falcons lead by another TD. Atlanta 34 and Seattle 10. Charlie Whitehurst relieved Matt Hasselbeck of quarterbacking duties in the very bottom of the third quarter.

Seven minutes into the fourth quarter, the backup QB made a TD himself by sashaying into the end zone. The Seahawks attempted but failed two-point conversion. A pass interference call on Falcons safety William Moore moved the line of scrimmage to the one yard line; the conversion worked that time (Whitehurst threw the ball to wide receiver Benjamin Obomanu). Atlanta 34 and Seattle 18. Final score.

4. As of the bottom of the first quarter, the Falcons would no doubt be in the playoffs because the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants lost their respective games.

5. Jonathan Babineaux is a defensive tackle for the Falcons; his brother Jordan is a Seahawk. Their mother was in the stands supporting both sons (Seahawks jersey frontside and Falcons jersey on the backside).

6. In the bottom of the fourth quarter, Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Matt Ryan had a short chat on the sidelines. Blank patted Ryan on the back. He then made it down the sidelines and exchanged encouraging words with the rest of the Falcons.

It’s been a Sitting Pugs tradition to watch the Army-Navy game, but this year something of greater value and importance transpired, thus, I had to bow out of Black Knights-Midshipmen revelry. Turns out, Navy left the Army all shook up with a 31 to 17 victory. Click here for summary, stats, and play-by-play. The Navy out-scored the Army in 2009, 2008, and 2007.

On the topic of college ball, I may or may not be able to view and blog about as many Bowl Games like I have in previous years. Click here to find out all the names and teams.

And now for your regularly scheduled blog: The Atlanta Falcons at the Carolina Panthers. Will the Falcons nab another victory and get their foot on a playoff spot? The first quarter began with the Panthers on offense. One play into their possession, a loose ball was recovered by the Falcons. One complete pass to wide receiver Roddy White and one stretch of running by Michael Turner later, tight end Tony Gonzalez made a touchdown catch in the end zone. Atlanta 7 and Carolina 0. Seven minutes later, quarterback Matt Ryan threw a stunning forty-some-odd yard pass to wide receiver Henry Douglas. The next play led to Michael Turner making his way to the one yard line, just shy of the Panters’ end zone. Carolina’s head coach John Fox challenged the on-field call of a non-fumble (did Panthers linebacker Jordan Senn rip the ball out before Turner was down by contact?). The Panthers lost that challenge. Two subsequent attempts to get into the end zone were unsuccessful (including one try where Matt Ryan got tapped and was brought down just outside the goal line), and then Michael Turner got his body in for TD. Atlanta 14 and Carolina 0.

The second quarter commenced with Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson sacking Matt Ryan. The bottom of the second quarter said hello to a thirty-nine yard Matt Bryant field goal. Atlanta 17 and Carolina 0. Panthers cornerback Richard Marshall intercepted Matt Ryan as the second quarter ended. The third quarter greeted the Panthers with a TD, courtesy of running back Mike Goodson. Atlanta 17 and Carolina 7. The Panthers were doing well defensively through the middle of this quarter…that is until the bottom of the third when Michael Turner made another rushing TD. Atlanta 24 and Carolina 7.

Six minutes into the fourth quarter, the Panthers increased their lead with a FG. Atlanta 24 and Carolina 10. With six minutes left in the game, Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas re-routed the trajectory of rookie Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen’s pass and facilitated an interception made by outside linebacker Mike Peterson. Michael Turner made yet another TD shortly thereafter. He just jogged himself and the ball right into the end zone. Atlanta 31 and Carolina 10. Final score.

3. In the bottom of the first quarter, Matt Ryan threw the ball to Michael Turner, who then got the first down and ran into the sidelines. When he got up, the camera was still on him–his right elbow was smudged with black stuff…like soot. I suspect that it is from the black coating on the end zones.

4. I’ve noticed in the last couple of seasons that the third quarter is often a momentum-shifter for Atlanta. If they have a good first half, they are more prone to making mistakes in the third. But, if the first half is not too great, then the third tends to be an offensive boon.

5. Jimmy Clausen was the QB for Notre Dame for the last few years.

6. Arthur Blank was walking around the sidelines. He wore a beige coat (like a detective might wear).

Given the weather systems that have swept through the central continental US over the past several days, the Green Bay Packers must be thrilled to ball-toss at the Georgia Dome today against the Atlanta Falcons. Televised on Fox, the first quarter began with the Falcons on offense and a thirty-eight yard field goal. Atlanta 3 and Green Bay 0. Quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers, the Packers put on a solid offensive display that put them in the red zone. The Falcons defense kept the Packers out of the end zone, so Green Bay had to field goal. Both teams 3.

The second quarter demonstrated Packers umph on offense. The Falcons defense responded as well as can be hoped (?), if you discount the personal fouls incurred as of five minutes into the quarter. Just when it would appear that the Packers would certainly get into the end zone, Aaron Rodgers lost the ball and the Falcons pounced on it. Hopefully that turnover would fuel the Falcons offense prowess. Despite Matt Ryan getting sacked and an incomplete pass, a “connection” with tight end Tony Gonzalez gave the Falcons another set of much-needed downs. With only eleven seconds left in the quarter, Matt Ryan threw a touchdown catch to Tony Gonzalez, who was standing near the back of the end zone. After making the TD, he dunked the ball over the cross bar of the uprights. Atlanta 10 and Green Bay 3.

The third quarter ticked halfway through with bursts-and-pauses for each time. The Packers’ second possession, however, proved fruitful as they tied the game with a TD (the quarterback himself crossed the goal line). Packers 10 and Atlanta 10. When the third quarter was a sneeze from ending, the Falcons got all the way to the edge of the end zone. The Packers defense successfully kept the birds from scoring twice. Would third-and-goal pay off for the Falcons? No. Head coach Mike Smith decided to challenge the ruling on the field of whether or not Tony Gonzalez had control of the ball (his feet were in the end zone, he was facing the field and flanked by two Packers. Did the ball break the plane). He lost the challenge.

The fourth quarter started with a fourth down and goal attempt by the Falcons to make a TD and running back Michael Turner answered the call. Atlanta 17 and Green Bay 10. The Packers’ offense did not give in or give up, neither did the Falcons’ defense. Packers wide receiver James Jones nearly had a TD but he landed out of bounds. In jumping up to catch the pass, Jones had to leap up and back so that by the time he came down, his left foot was half-in-half-on the white. The two minute warning came and went…and on fourth-and-goal for the Packers, after a false start penalty, wide receiver Jordy Nelson made a TD at the edge of the end zone. Both teams 17.

Falcons wide receiver Eric Weems got face-masked as he was returning the kick with under a minute left. That penalty on the Packers put the Falcons at the fifty yard line. Kicker Matt Bryant had the victory on your shoulders. Would he make the forty-seven yard FG? YES!!!! SWEET DICED, CANNED PEACHES!!! Atlanta 20 and Green Bay 17. Final score.

The St. Louis Rams hosted an afternoon of turf wars with the Atlanta Falcons. Televised by Fox, the Rams, quarterbacked by Sam Bradford, were on offense first. Three minutes later, the Rams punted the ball to the Falcons. Due to one 5 yard false start penalty, a 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalty, and an incomplete pass, the Falcons had to send the ball right back to the Rams. Two plays later, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui made a touchdown catch for the home team. St. Louis 7 and Atlanta 0. The Falcons’ offense improved by the middle of the quarter when his decision to throw the ball, after seconds of tip-toeing in the pocket, led to a complete pass to wide receiver Eric Weems. Five minutes later, Falcons Matt Bryant kicker attempted a forty-two yard field goal. It was good. St. Louis 7 and Atlanta 3.

The top of the second quarter had Rams kicker Josh Brown making a fifty-three yard FG. St. Louis 10 and Atlanta 3. At the end of the Falcons’ next possession, quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Brian Finneran connected for a TD. St. Louis 10 and Atlanta 10. The middle of the second quarter gave the Falcons a lead with a FG. Atlanta 13 and St. Louis 10. The final forty seconds could’ve given the Falcons a TD lead but they had to settle for a FG because Brian Finneran couldn’t keep hold of the ball (he was well-covered) and Matt Ryan may not have known that tight end Tony Gonzalez was wide open. Atlanta 16 and St. Louis 10.

The third quarter began strongly for the Rams–wide receiver Danny Amendola’s thirty-one yard kickoff return and running back Steven Jackson’s sixteen yards of moving down the field preceded a TD catch by wide receiver Brandon Gibson. St. Louis 17 and Atlanta 16. The Rams defense turned out a solid performance through the middle of the third quarter. The Falcons defense wasn’t backing down, but would their offense reclaim their own momentum? One could argue in the affirmative given Tony Gonzalez’s catch with under six minutes left in the quarter. Three minutes later, the Falcons were first-and-goal courtesy of a catch by tight end Justin Peelle. A couple plays later, Peelle brought the ball in to the end zone. Atlanta 23 and St. Louis 17.

The fourth quarter ticked down halfway and the Falcons gained another three points from a FG. Atlanta 26 and St. Louis 17. The game hadn’t seen any sacks by the bottom of the quarter; the first interception would occur when Falcons safety William Moore got his hands on a shovel pass. Wahoo! Double time on that wahoo as Falcons running back Michael Turner doled out a rushing TD after the two-minute warning. The Falcons nailed a two-point conversion thanks to wide receiver Roddy White (who cut into the bottom right corner of the end zone). Atlanta 34 and St. Louis 17. Final score.

Observations & Miscellania:

1. Game narration was provided by Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan (the former was in the booth, the latter on the field).

Seafood gumbo and sweet peaches rumbled in the Nawlins with Fox behind the camera. The first quarter began with the Falcons on offense. Two minutes in and there’s already a challenge on an incomplete pass call. Mike Smith didn’t win the challenge. Saints wide receiver Lance Moore demonstrated field-slicing swiftness by returning the ball seventy-two yards from a Michael Koenen punt. A few plays later, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and tight end Jeremy Shockey connected for a touchdown catch in the end zone. New Orleans 7 and Atlanta 0. The Falcons responded with a steady momentum on offense courtesy of tight end Tony Gonzalez. Nine plays into the Falcon’s second go and quarterback Matt Ryan threw a TD pass to Gonzalez. New Orleans 7 and Atlanta 7.

The Falcons defense displayed their shining colors when cornerback Brent Grimes intercepted a throw meant for Saints wide receiver Devery Henderson. Drew Brees “righted” that passing “wrong” when Lance Moore made a TD when the Saints got the ball back. New Orleans 14 and Atlanta 7.

The second quarter started off with Drew Brees and posse performing solidly on offense…until four minutes in when Brees managed to wiggle out of a sack but was off-balance when he chucked the ball in the direction of another Saint. Golden fleece carpet ride! Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud was there to make that catch (he then jogged along the sidelines a handful of yards, arms outspread and the ball in one hand). Tony Gonzalez proved his abilities again when he out-maneuvered the Saints defensive player trailing him to become an open receiver for Matt Ryan and then later when he held onto the ball in the red zone. It took a number of attempts, but the Falcons eventually got into the end zone via running back Michael Turner. New Orleans 14 and Atlanta 14.

Halfway through the third quarter the ball got loose from one of the Saints players and one of the Falcons recovered it from under a pile of bodies. Oh, but what a change of luck in the bottom of the third as Falcons running back Jason Snelling lost the ball as he was brought down to the ground and a Saints player scooped it up. The Falcons have challenged the ruling of recovered fumble and won the challenge. Snelling’s left elbow hit the turf before he lost the ball. The Saints defense kept the running game from going anywhere. The Falcons would go for a twenty-three yard field goal. Atlanta 17 and New Orleans 14.

The Saints got luckier when an incidental ball-touch on Falcons DeCoud’s left foot resulted in a ricochet that enabled New Orleans to stay on offense. How would the Falcons defense respond? Not too well since Lance Moore eventually ran the ball into the end zone. He then proceeded to do a celebratory dance involving foot kicks and arm waves a la clogging meets breakdancing. New Orleans 21 and Atlanta 17.

The Falcons fought to close the score gap in the fourth quarter when they were on offense again. Wide receiver Roddy White put his team on top of the board with a TD catch. Atlanta 24 and New Orleans 21. The score remained the same through to the two-minute warning. The Saints were on offense with under a minute left to on the clock. Would they go for a field goal to tie the game? Would they try to go for the end zone? Saints kicker Garrett Hartley ended up tying the game with a thirty-two yard field goal.

Atlanta won the coin toss in overtime. The first three plays didn’t help the Falcons on offense. Would their defense fare better? Not much better. Thanks to a complete pass to Lance Moore, the Saints got down the field far enough so that even if they don’t get into the end zone, they’d still have a FG try. And field goal they went. Garrett Hartley missed the twenty-nine yard field goal! It went wide left. Would the Falcons make their fans proud? Specifically, would kicker Matt Bryant put the forty-six yard FG through the uprights? YES!!! SWEET GRANNY SMITH APPLES!!!! Atlanta 27 and New Orleans 24. Final score.

Observations & Miscellania:

1. Brian Billick and Thom Brennaman provided commentary.

2. The Saints wore white jerseys, the Falcons red.

3. After Matt Bryant put the extra point on the board following the Falcons’ first TD in the first quarter, Matt Ryan (sans helmet) got a medium close-up screaming “lets go” and “yeah!”. It was in slow-motion. He might have fist-pumped the left side of his chest.

4. Thomas Decoud’s intercepting of Drew Brees resulted in a Falcons TD. Atlanta had the ball for eleven game-play minutes.

5. Awww, a few nuns attended the game in support of the Saints.

6. The Falcons spent their last OT time-out with four minutes left. Matt Ryan got into the faces of his offense teammates. He probably demanded that his guys ‘finish this thing.’

6. Did the Saints use a time-out after running back Pierre Thomas couldn’t get off the field after catching a pass in the bottom of the fourth?